“We want to make sure that we’re doing everything we can to help Afghan security forces succeed.”

Ghani took charge six months ago after elections and protracted power-sharing negotiations.

Since taking office he has embraced calls to tackle corruption and for Afghan forces to lead the fight against Taliban militants.

But last year’s April-October fighting season was one of the most bloody on record, exposing Afghans’ poor command, insufficient training and a lack of crucial equipment.

Obama’s decision means 350,000 Afghan security personnel will have air and other key US support through this year’s fighting season, which begins in weeks.

Katherine Blakeley, a defense policy analyst at the non-profit Center for American Progress in Washington, said Obama’s announcement would allow the US to keep key bases open in Taliban-active areas like Jalalabad and Kandahar.

“It’s very significant,” she said, it shows Afghan troops “they have our support, they are not going to be an easy target.”

Ghani vowed that the breathing space “will be used to accelerate reforms, to ensure that the Afghan National Security Forces are much better led, equipped, trained and are focused on the fundamental mission.”

But it is a temporary reprieve. Obama indicated he intends to hold fast to a promise to withdraw almost all troops by 2017, when he is set to leave office.

A decision on 2016 troop levels will be made later this year.

He also stressed that US troops still in Afghanistan “are not on the frontlines because they’re not in a combat role,” as he praised the “courage and tenacity” of the much-maligned Afghan forces.